Pipe driving tool attachments



Sept. 8, 1959 w. B. LEVY ErAL PIPE DRIVING TooL ATTAcr-m/LENTS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet ZL'ZV 113127277? Sept 8. 1959 w. B. LEVY Em 2,902,832

PIPE DRIVING TOOL ATTACI-IIVIENTS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ficsb.

FIGS.

f l .m A v Uit tates Patent PIPE DRIVING ToorJ ATTACHMENTS William B. Levy and Carl L. Roeirm, Wilmington, Del.,

assignors to Delaware Tool Steel Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 557,962

2 Claims. (Cl. 61-77) This invention relates to devices for driving pipes underground, said devices avoiding necessity for digging trenches corresponding in length to the pipe line which it may be desired to lay.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a pipe driver consisting of a combination of elements which function in conjunction with each other to meet the various requirements of underground pipe driving.

For the purpose of underground pipe driving, it has been proposed to employ a driver element adapted for operative association with conventional pneumatic hammer means and adapted, also, for operative association in hereinafter described manner with one end of a section of the pipe to be driven so as to transmit to the latter the impulses generated by the hammer and thereby to advance the pipe through the ground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in conjunction with the said driver element and as an element of the aforesaid combination, an adapter which may be interposed between the driver element and the end of the pipe to be driven as a medium for adapting the driver element to pipes of various sizes outside of a normal capacity range.

Still another object of the invention is to provide as an essential element of the combination, a driving point adapted for application to the leading end of the driven pipe for protection of the latter during the driving operation, said point being designed relatively to the pipe so as to eliminate or reduce to a practical minimum the abrasive effects of the earth through which the pipe is driven upon the outer surface of the pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a driving point adapted for use in conjunction with so called mill Wrap pipe and formed so as to afford protection and to preclude damage to the pipe Wrapping materials.

The invention contemplates further the provision as an element of the aforesaid combination of a connecting pin adapted to establish a drive connection between the terminal ends of two pipe sections so that driving impulses may be transmitted from one of said sections to another, said pin being designed to afford protection to the ends of the pipe during the driving operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connecting pin of the character described having provision for establishing a driving connection between two pipe sections of differing diameters, said pin being designed to facilitate the movement of the pipes through the earth in the driving operation.

The foregoing and other objects hereinafter appearing are attained by devices and structural features hereinafter described and shown in the attached drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view` illustrating the basic driver element, the manner in which it is assembled with an air hammer of conventional form, with a driving point constituting an element of the driver combination 0f this invention, and with a section of pipe to be driven,

f. ICC l and illustrating also the mode of operation of the elements in such assembly;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side 'view partly in longitudinal section of the assembly of Fig. 1 showing the structural details of the driver and point elements;

Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section showing an adapter element of the driver device and its coactive relation with the basic driver element of the combination;

Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section showing another element of the combination tool and the manner in which it functions to establish a driving connection between the proximate ends of aligned pipe sections;

Fig, 5 is a side view partly in section of the point element;

Fig. 6 is a side View partly in section of the adapter element;

Fig. 7 is a side view partly in section of the basic driver element;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the connecting pin, and

Fig. 9 is a side View of a modified form of connecting pin adapted for use in operatively connecting the ends of pipes of different diameters in inter-driving relation.

With reference to the drawings, the driving element aforesaid which constitutes the basic element of the cornbination tool of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 1. This element is rodlike in character, as illustrated, and has at one end a shank Z formed for operative association and connection 'with a standard pneumatic hammer of the type, for example, used in road building land repair operations. The element 1 has at the other end a stem 3 for insertion in one end of the pipe to be driven; and intermediate said ends a collar 4 which is cupped axially at one end to form a socket 5 for reception of said pipe end. The bottom surface 6 of the socket, which preferably occupies a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the driver, forms a seat for the end of the pipe, and when so seated in the socket, the pipe end is confined circumferentially between the confronting side surfaces, 7 and 8 respectively, of the stem and cup.

In the present instance, the collar 4 constitutes a separate part and comprises an inwardly tapered axially extending bore 9 which at its inner end intersects the bottom surface 6 of the socket. The tapered surface of the bore conforms to a conical surface 11 formed on the body of the driver 1, and in assembly the surface of the bore 9 seats against the conical surface 11 as illustrated, said conical portion of the driver projecting into the socket 5. It will be apparent that by reason of this interseating of the tapered bore and conical sections, the distance between the outer end of the stern 3 and the bottom 6 of the socket 5 is a fixed one.

The manner in which this driver element is associated with the pipe in the driving operation is illustrated in Fig, 2. As therein illustrated, the end of the pipe seats in the socket 5 of the collar 4. The socket is dirnensioned so that either the side surface 8 of the socket will lie in close proximity to or against the outer surface of the pipe, or the side surface of the stem in the plane of the bottom 6 of the socket will occupy a corresponding relation to the inner surface of the pipe. In practice, however, the width of the socket fwill be such as to afford a certain latitude in the dimension of the pipe that may be inserted in the socket, but in any event, the spacing of the outer or inner diameter of the pipe from the confronting side wall of the socket, inner or outer as the case may be, will be sufficiently small to discourage any tendency of the end of the pipe to be upset as a result of the hammer action of the driving tool against the pipe. I have found it suitable, for example, to form 3 A the collar in the stem so that the socket will accept pipes within a range of say 1% to 2", or equivalent range.

In accordance with the invention, l provide in conjunction with this driver element an adapter of the form shown in Fig. 3 and' indicatedby the reference numeral 12. This adapter is of generally cylindrical form having at' one end an axially extended socket 13 whichy will receive the stem of the driverelement described above, the dimensions of this end' of the adapter' being/such that' it will t' nicely` within the socket- 5 of' the driver element. The' socket 13- has aA depth exceeding the length of the' stern portion 3 of they driver element from the outer terminal end of said stem to the seat 6 of: the collar 4. so that the end surface 14' of the adapterA Will seat'upjon the saidsurface 6;

The opposite end" of theadapter has anaxially extended bore which forms a' socketforv reception of theend of the pipe toA be' driven, thisv socket having dimensions conforming more or less closely to the outside diameter of the' pipe forthe purpose described above. Where this adapter is used with mill wrap pipe, the 'endl ofy the pipeA which is to be inserted in the socket 15 is bared of the outer Wrapping and the socket 15 isdimensionally relatedasy described above to the bare pipe. One o1'- more adapters ofithis character will extend the'utility ofthe devicel over ai range of pipe sizes of considerable magnitud'e;

In conjunction with' the driver and adapter described above, my' invention provides a driving point 16 which preferably' takes the form illustrated in Fig. 2`. This point is of generally cylindrical forrn'andis` formed at its leading end with a conical tip 17. At the opposite end, the point is providedwith an axial bore 18, the outer end ofv which is` counterbored' i'n-y theV present instance as indicated" at 19. The bore'18= receives thefleading endl of the pipe to be drivenv as illustrated,kthe endl surfaceof the-pipe seating inthe bottom of the bore. Apertu-res 21 may be provided for reception ofI a pinV to secure. the pointl to the end ofthe pipe.- The diameter of the bore preferably' does not' greatly exceed'. the outer diameter of the inserted pipe so that tendency for the end of the pipe to upset inA the boreV under the driving impacts will be minimized or avoided. j

The eounterbore 1.9- is providedl for the purpose of adapting this point for use with pipe of millwrap type. With pipe of thisl type, the wrapis removed from the end of the pipe to alinear extent slightly in` excess of the lengtlioflv the inner smaller portion of the bore 18 butless than the total length of the bore including the counterbore 19; The endofthe wrapV will, therefore,y occupy the counterbore 1-9', as indicated in the drawings,.so, that they wrap willi be embracedl and protected against any possible damage by abrasive or obstructive contact with the earthJ through which. the pipe is' driven. rf'he outer diameter of the point preferably'materially exceeds the outer diameter of the wrappedportion of the pipe so that the hole drilledV by. the pointv will correspondingly exceed'i the wrapped pipe in diameter thereby affording sufficient clearance between the; wall ofthe drilled passage and the outer surface of the wrapped pipe to precludedamage to thelatter.

Thisis of' considerable. practical importance since with this type of pipe,.it isessential that the wrapping remain intact over the entire length of thepipe. Otherwise the expense ofA the Wrappingis offset by the existence, of the unprotected area ofthe pipefeventhough the latter is of small extent. It is important. also that the end ofthe Wrap whichb occupies the. counterbore 19 be retained in its original unmutilated state in order to facilitate the operation of joining the exposed or bare end of the pipe tothe proximate end of the. adjoining pipe section and the subsequent manual wrapping of the joined ends in theareainwhich the original milll Wrap was removed.

It is-desirable in some instances to drive one section of pipe fromanothenand tothis end`the proximate ends 4 of the two sections must be joined in a manner to preclude relative displacement andsothat the drivingimpact applied to the one section may be transmitted squarely to the other. For this purpose, I provide a connecting pin of the character illustrated in Fig. 4. This pin comprises two generally cylindrical end sections, 22 and 23 respectively, which in the present instance are of the same diameter. Intermediate these end sections is a collar 24 of increased diameter which formsY on its opposite end faces seats for the aforesaid pipe sections, the end portions 22 and 2'3 being rst inserted in the pipe ends and the'ends brought together so that they are separated only to the extent of the axial length of the collar 24. lt will beY apparent that the diameter ofthe collar portion 24 of this. pin should be less than the outside diameter of the driving point 16 so that the same clearance will exist between the circumferential surface of the collar and the drill hole formed by advancement of the point 16- as exists between the outer'A sur-face of thepipe and the drill hole surface.- Where the pinis to be used withmill Wrap pipe the diameter ofy the collar 24'- will correspond preferably to the outer diameter of= the wrapped pipe.

In' Fig: 9,- l 'have illustrated a connecting pin adapted for' use between pipes of different sizes. In this case, the cylindrical endl section 25 ofthe pinwill t within the pipel sect-ionv of: greater. size, as illustrated;- and portion Z6 ofY the pinwill be adapted# torit within theinterior of the-pipe of` lesser size. The intervening colla-r 27 will in this case have at the-sidelof the end'vportion-QS'y a radial face 28' of outer diameter corresponding to the outside diameter-off the pipe-in'whichA the endsection 25has been inserted and whichI face forms aseat for the pipe end; At its opposite side, the collar 2-7- tapers` inwardly. toward theend section Z6of lesser diameterrtoform a truncated conical surface which terminates at its smaller endl ma radial shoulder 31 having an outside diameter. correspond-` ing to-the outside diameter.' of the pipe-.in which the end portion 26s. is inserted. The conical surface 29, then pro.. vides an inclined transition.: sur-face extending from the outer surface of the one pipe section tothe outer surface of the other; This precludes possible. interference betweentthe collar and thedrilllwhich might interfere with the free passage'.ofithepipethroughf the drillbore.

The'mode of? the operation ofthe device described above is well illustrated in Fig. 1. Therein the reference numeral 32 indicates a paved; road bed under whicha pipe Iline is to be laid. The numerals 33 and 34;` indicate excavations at oppositesides respectively of theroad.V The pipe 35' is driven from theexcavation 33, and 36v is the aforesaid conventional forml of pneumatic hammer which is used inthe driving operationv and' which for that pur.- pose is held on itsr side in the excavation.. The. tool chuck of the hammer receives the shank 2 of the-driving element 1 described above, and the end. of. pipeY 35 is seatedvin the socket 5 of collar 4. The opposite or leading end of the pipe, or ofthe leading pipe section,.carries the driving point 16".- Ati the required depth, the said leading end is entered in the Wall of excavation.. 33, and the hammer is then actuated to drive the pipe in obvious Imanner until the said point has penetrated' to the desired extent into the excavation 34'. The pipe is` thus 'laidf without necessity Ifor disnupting theV paving of road way 3'2 or for interrupting normal' traffic on. the road; andthe savingin time, labor and expense will` be apparent.

I claim:

1v. A' pipe driver for pneumatic hammers, said driver comprising a rodflike body memberV having atone end a shankv forming an operative connection with the hammer, `a stem at the other end coaxial with the shanlcand having: an enlarged' conical. section tapering toward the stern endof thebody member, a collar intermediate said ends4 cupped axiallyV to.. form. a sockets facing the said stem-end of tlebody member and embracingzsaid stem,

said collar being separate from the stem and having a conical opening inthe bottom Wall of the cup for wedged reception of the said conical section of the stem to anchor the collar on the stem, a generally cylindrical adapter element having at one end an axially extended bore for reception of the said stem, the wall of said bore having `diameter and thickness at the outer end corresponding approximately to the diameter and radial width of the said collar socket so as to lit Within and to `seat on the bottom of the latter, said bore exceeding in depth the length of the stem from the said socket bottom, and said adapter element having at the other end an axially extended socket for reception of the end of the pipe to be driven.

2. A pipe driver according to claim 1 wherein the pipe receiving socket conforms closely in diameter to the outside diameter of the pipe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pierce Dec. 16, 1902 Eisenmenger Mar. 2, 1915 Pruyn June 27, 1916 Hindmarsh Feb. 13, 1923 Davis Nov. 23, 1926 Atwell May 29, 1934 Barney Sept. 8, 1936 Schmitt Dec. 21, 1937 Ekin Jan. 21, 1941 Page et al Jan. 29, 1952 Tallman Aug. 13, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Nov. 16, 1943 

